Technical Notes 2024, Issue 62 - Scottish Government Consultation: Draft Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-29 Actions today, for a climate resilient future

1. The purpose of this technical note is to make Elected Members aware of the Draft Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP) 2024-29, which is currently subject to consultation.

2. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish Ministers to set out an Adaptation Plan responding to each UK wide ‘Climate Change Risk Assessment’ (CCRA). A new CCRA is published every five years. The CCRA acts as a common evidence-base underpinning adaptation plans in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the UK Government. The third CCRA, or CCRA3 – to which the draft Adaptation Plan will respond – establishes 61 risks, and opportunities, from a changing climate.

3. Scotland’s net zero targets are part of global efforts to limit climate change to 1.5°C (global temperature rise). However, the Climate Change Committee’s advice is to adapt now to a global temperature rise of 2°C and assess the risks up to 4°C – even though it is imperative the world avoids this catastrophic scenario.

4. The Draft SNAP public consultation provides details on:

• The proposed structure of the Adaptation Plan.
• General questions on local and lived experience of Climate Change.
• Introductions to each of the Plan’s five Outcomes, with policy proposal highlights and public consultation questions.
• Policy proposals to enable cross-cutting action for all five Outcomes.
• A summary of the legal framework and evidence base for Climate Adaptation in Scotland.
• Conclusion and post-consultation next steps.
• Detailed Policy Proposals for each Outcome (Annex A).
• Cross-Cutting Policy Proposals (Annex B).
• An overview of work to develop an Adaptation Monitoring Framework for Scotland that will be published alongside the final Adaptation Plan (Annex C).

5. Climate adaptation is a complex picture of risks, opportunities and dependencies between policies. To break down this complexity, the draft Adaptation Plan is structured around five outcomes and 22 Objectives, setting out the case for adaptation action for:

• Nature Connects: Nature connects across our lands, settlements, coasts and seas.
• Communities: Communities creating climate-resilient, healthy and equitable places.
• Public Services and Infrastructure: Public services are collaborating in effective, inclusive adaptation action.
• Economy, Business and Industry: Economies and industries are adapting and realising opportunities in Scotland’s Just Transition.
• International Action: Scotland’s international role supports climate justice and enhanced global action on climate adaptation.

6. Alongside shaping the Adaptation Plan around 5 outcomes, the Plan is taking a place-based approach to designing and delivering adaptation action. Climate change impacts vary massively depending on location. A rural, island community in the Outer Hebrides will experience climate change differently compared to a community on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow. Simply put, local and lived experience is a fundamental part of effective adaptation action.

7. A public consultation began on 31st January 2024 and closes on 24th April 2024. In line with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, officers have drafted a technical response to the consultation, reflecting current Council policies on the subject matter.

8. The draft Council response is attached as Appendix 1. This includes extracts of the 41 separate consultation questions, with space for comments and answers.

If you would like to contribute or add to the response, please email the Sustainability Policy Team at sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov.uk by Monday, 22nd April 2024.

9. Full details of the consultation can be found on the Scottish Government Webpage - SNAP Consultation.